Myth 1: Going on an exchange is too expensive.
Reality: Going on exchange can be more affordable than you think. Scholarships, budgeting, proper research and other resources can offset costs.
For Kayla Hunkin, a fourth-year psychology student, securing a prestigious Killam fellowship through Fulbright Canada for a one-term exchange at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa took significant effort and commitment. However, it made her exchange in the beautiful but pricey setting of Hawai’i much easier.
“The financial support helped me enormously, particularly because of the high cost of living in Hawai’i. It helped cover the cost of my tuition and a portion of my housing but, just as importantly, it gave me some financial peace of mind and allowed me to focus on my studies and experience abroad without needing to work while I was there.”
Kayla says she applied for the US$6,000 award because of her interest in psychology and a desire to explore how upbringing, environment and culture shape human behaviour.
Being selected came with a lot of academic responsibility, even as she enjoyed a part of the world often associated with tourism.
Kayla recommends that students interested in an exchange should explore and apply for scholarships, even if they think they won’t succeed.
“If you have the motivation, a genuine reason for wanting to participate and the dedication to put in the work, I really believe it is worth applying for scholarships.”
Kayla Hunkin
— Fourth-year psychology student
Even without a scholarship, however, Kayla says there are always workarounds and other ways to cut costs.
“Ultimately, the cost of an exchange will look very different depending on the host country and your individual circumstances, but I think thorough research, budgeting and looking for student resources can make a significant difference.”
Several scholarships are available to help cover the cost of studying abroad.
Explore exchange program scholarships
Myth 2: Going on an exchange is too nerve-wracking.
Reality: You’ll rise to the challenge and discover new strengths.
At first, Sarah Hooymans, a philosophy student with a minor in English, says the experience of going on an exchange to Maynooth University, in Ireland, was very challenging. But it was all worthwhile in the end.
“By building a life for myself, completely alone in a foreign country, I learned so much about who I am as a person and what I am capable of.”
Sarah Hooymans
— Philosophy student with a minor in English
Initially, Sarah admits she was worried about the upheaval.
“I was scared to leave everything I knew and loved and move to a completely unknown town in an unknown country. I was worried that I would sacrifice personal relationships or lose parts of my life that I enjoyed.”
The first few weeks after she arrived in mid-January were tough. It rained every day and she felt far from home, hadn’t yet made any close friends, didn’t know where to get groceries and couldn’t figure out the hot water heater and radiator in the house where she was staying.
But soon, like the weather, everything got a bit brighter.
“I met amazing friends who were there for me on good days and bad days. We shared big moments together, like weekend trips travelling across Europe, but we also shared small moments, like studying in the library or crying together during hard times.”
Myth 3: I won’t be able to manage an exchange all by myself.
Reality: Experts at uOttawa and host universities help with resources and organization.
“With the resources provided by both the uOttawa mobility team and my host university, I was able to apply for a study visa, find an affordable apartment, enrol in all the courses and deal with all the other fundamentals,” says Bowen Zhang, a communication student. “It did take a few weeks to get everything settled, but it felt nothing compared to the excitement of living in a foreign city for months.”
An international student from China, Bowen says he never thought that studying at Mannheim University, in Germany, would be a part of his experience of studying in Canada at uOttawa. Applying for an exchange seemed so overwhelming at first, he says.
Bowen admits going on an exchange isn’t always “sunshine and rainbows.”
“There will be moments when you feel overwhelmed, whether it’s when everyone speaks a language you can’t understand, or when your train is delayed, your flight is cancelled...”
“At the end of your exchange, you will find yourself being more capable of navigating situations you once thought would be too much.”
Bowen Zhang
— Communication student
Myth 4: An exchange isn’t worth all the planning it takes to apply and organize.
Reality: It’s a fulfilling experience you’ll never forget.
During the winter term of her third year at uOttawa, Megan Satumba, a fourth-year nutrition student, chose to go to the University of Cape Town, in South Africa, even though she didn’t have much information about how this would happen.
“Despite all the stress, it could not have been any more fulfilling,” Megan says. “In the fall, there was very little clarity regarding the logistics of my trip and the likelihood of it happening. Nonetheless, after a lot of work and communication with my host university, I applied for the visa with a nervously short timeline before my anticipated flight. Fortunately, everything had gone through perfectly and I was finally able to relax because my passport had arrived in the mail with my study visa right there inside of it.”
“The whole process is quite demanding and challenging but ultimately, it is up to you to make it all worth it.”
Megan Satumba
— Fourth-year nutrition student
Myth 5: There’s no point going to a different country just for academics.
Reality: It’s an opportunity to explore so much more than what goes on in the classroom.
“Living on the other side of the world gave me the opportunity to experience a different culture, meet people from around the world, and step outside of the routine I was used to in Canada,” says Reuben D’Souzam, a computer science student, who studied at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), in Singapore.
Initially, Reuben says he thought the exchange would be purely about academics. Today, he says it was one of the highlights of his university experience.
“I made friends with people I probably never would have met otherwise, and who I still talk to today. If you’re thinking about going on exchange, I would recommend taking the chance.”
Reuban D’Souza
— Computer science student
“Getting to live in Singapore was probably my favourite part of the exchange. I spent a lot of time trying different hawker centres (food courts made up of local, independent food stalls), exploring neighbourhoods, and going around the city with friends. Singapore is a great base for travelling around Asia. During my term, I travelled to 10 other countries.”
Myth 6: You can only choose one exchange destination.
Reality: Double exchanges allow you to study at two different institutions in the same year.
The opportunity to live and study in two different countries made the exchange experience even more fulfilling, says Emma Champagne, a health sciences student who studied at Leiden University in The Netherlands and Adelaide University in Australia.
“Choosing to do a double exchange was genuinely one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was able to immerse myself in two very different cultures, experience different ways of life and learn how to adapt to new environments all over again.”
Emma Champagne
— Health sciences student
“Each country came with its own adjustments, from the people and culture to the education systems, scenery, lifestyle and everyday routines. However, those differences are exactly what made the experience so special.
“Life in the Netherlands felt more fast-paced, there were always people around, and even things like the way people dressed and socialized felt so different.”
“One thing that really stood out to me was how Australians seemed to have such a great balance between work, school, social life and simply enjoying where they live.”
Myth 7: Being alone on an exchange wouldn’t be fun.
Reality: Becoming more independent builds character.
Jason Yang, a mathematics and economics student, studied at Nagoya University, in Japan.
Meeting new people and making new friends were among the top things Jason says he had wanted out of the exchange, and the experience delivered. However, despite making friends from all over the world, he discovered a new-found comfort in going solo when it came to exploring regions of Japan.
“I found that going by myself was an alternative. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, there’s no one to split the cost of hotels, I’m on the train by myself for hours on end…
“Over time, however, I started to like the experience. I found that the freedom of changing my plans halfway through made my life much easier and allowed me to see things that I had not researched. Going at a pace that I was comfortable with was also something that I really liked. There was no compromise of any kind.”
“My advice to future exchange students is don’t wait until other people are on board with your idea. Go on solo trips and unlock a new perspective that will last the rest of your life.”
Jason Yang
— Mathematics and economics student
Thinking about going on an exchange?
Discover everything you need to know, from eligibility and our partner institutions to required documents and the application process.
